Someone created a video and posted it on youtube.com that was really insulting to Barack Obama because it questioned his patriotism. This “someone” is conservative Lee Habeeb, a former producer of the Laura Ingraham Show and is currently the director of strategic content at Salem Radio Network, the conservative talk radio powerhouse. What a bastard. Here’s the video:

Several points:

1) I find the Reverend’s remarks very incendiary and very divisive. There was no talk of forgiveness or unity, only hate. He would not have been my Pastor.

2) There is a well of anger and resentment that still exists within the black community.There is no way that African-Americans can possibly overcome the centuries old oppression in a mere 44 years. Poverty, jut like wealth, is inherited, as is desperation. Just because they were given equal rights in ’64, did not mean that they were suddenly on par with whites. Whites are miles ahead of blacks still, to this day. There is still racism on both sides of the racial divide, as the reverend’s remarks make absolutely clear. It will take more time to heal the wounds and to level the playing field. This country needs to talk honestly about race, but I think we’re not ready yet. People, on both sides, are too immature and sensitive to hold an honest and open discussion.

3) As for Patriotism, I do not question either Obama’s or Clinton’s patriotism. They are both serving as civil servants, which is a noble and altruistic sacrifice. However, I do think, as far as politics go, that Barack Obama would be better off if he would wear the pin and salute the flag. I don’t really care either way, but there are millions of other people who do. Common sense should have told him to wear the stupid pin and salute the flag, if only for appearances sake.

4) As for “the chickens are coming home to roost,” what about that is not factually correct? Again, his presentation is very abrasive and divisive, but his basic point is right on: America has committed a number of atrocities (including Nagasaki and Hiroshima) but they are viewed by Americans to be okay. They do not view American foreign policy as aggressive or hostile, but benevolent and peaceful. The terrorists are at war with us because of our policies in the middle-east, not because they hate us for being Christian or because we have freedom and democracy. They hate that we support Israel’s brutal military occupation of Palestine; we imposed sanctions on Iraq that were devastating the Iraqi people and resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million Iraqi civilians; and because we had troops on the Holy Lands of Mecca and Medina. Those are the reasons Usama bin Laden gave when he declared war on the United States in 1996, not religious reasons. So, whether people agree that the policies are wrong or not is a completely different argument, but the fact remains that the terrorists perceive them as being negative and harmful, so they have to fight us. That’s the truth. It’s called “blowback.” One might say that the “chickens are coming home to roost.”

5) And finally, I think Obama’s handling of the situation has been sub-par, which is par for his course of dealing with negative attention. People can celebrate and jump for joy over his speech, but he really has not adequately distanced himself from the remarks nor the pastor, which is what’s really bothering people. The “god damn America” part, coupled with the pin and salute and his wife’s remarks, really paint an unflattering portrait of Obama’s patriotism. This is a republican’s wet dream. They’re all about patriotism over there. They don’t have to make any other arguments than the patriotism argument and that will be enough to sway that block of voters. Obama’s problem all along is that he really doesn’t know how to strike back. Hillary is great at that. He can talk all he wants to about unity and change and bi-partisanship, but if he becomes President the republicans aren’t going to give up and say, “Oh, okay! We’ll work together now! Yay!” They are going to kick and scream and yell their way to defeating anything he wants to do, particularly with the war and health care. We need someone who can work with republicans when neccessary, but kick in some skulls when something needs to get done. I don’t think, judging from how he has thus far handled crises, that he is the man for the job.

And another thing, I hate to admit it, but watching CNN is like watching an orgy for Obama. I’m so sickened by this that I watch Fox News (which is equally sickening, but at least they’re not ejaculating over everthing Obama says or does). Everything about Obama is positve, or when they deal with something negative they’re always defensive. With Hillary it’s always negative and hateful. Just today, they were going after her because she finally made a statement about the Reverend Wright scandal. She did not go out of her way to bring up the subject– she was asked a question and she gave her answer. They make her seem like a vindictive bitch. If they’re butt-hurt over her comments, then they’re going to get a rude awakening when the Election gets underway and the republicans really start their attacks.

I fuckin hate Bill O’Reilly, so imagine my headache when I actually agreed with him!